Face3 Digest

How could Osheaga Music Festival prioritize it’s large pool of existing newsletter subscribers while also gaining thousands of new eyeballs with a single gesture? The idea; to create an interactive “Where’s Waldo” experience that combined a contest component with a puzzle game wherein users would have a chance to guess and anticipate which performers would be headlining the 2014 festival before the official announcement only days away.

Subscribers and fans were invited to guess which bands and artists would be playing this year’s festival by email and social media. A lush, densely populated illustration packed with secret messages and visuals that only diehard fans could untangle was commissioned.

Face3 built a versatile app that could run on desktops, tablets and mobile devices that transformed the static illustration into an interactive puzzle game with real-time leader boards that users could compete against. It also had to be built quickly, but be robust enough to handle the tens of thousands of contest entries that ended up flooding the custom built back-end.

The gorgeous poster was transformed into a successful web promotion that drove traffic to Osheaga’s main site while raising outsider festival awareness via the immersive puzzle experience in the 6 days leading up to the announcement of performers for the 2014 festival.

Job Description

We are in search of a website developer with experience in creating/modifying custom PHP and existing third party CMS (such as WordPress, Joomla and Drupal) and to work closely with Art & Creative directors & Project Managers. A high-level understanding of web servers/hosts, web standards & web trends is required.

Company Description

Based in Montreal, Quebec, Face3 Media is a versatile, multilingual, design and development-obsessed collection of designers, programmers and marketing experts.

Our experienced team has, over the last ten years, worked with companies, sites and zines in a wide range of fields and platforms, creating websites, ad campaigns, music videos and more. We are truly passionate about media design and development and we offer a full range of related services, including high-end programming, content development and marketing.

For the fifth year running Face3 Media is pleased to design & develop new websites for the Osheaga Music and Arts Festival and Heavy MTL.

Each website features need-to-know details about the events, from the lineup and safety information to a platform for purchasing tickets and even creating your own schedule. In 2011 the two festivals brought more than 125 bands and musicians to Montreal in a total of five days, and this year is sure to be even bigger. For Heavy MTL, 2012 means a chance to kick it into full gear in celebration of the Mayan-predicted end of the world. Nothing says apocalypse like heavy metal, hard rock and thrashing guitars. As for the Osheaga Festival, we at Face3 are as anxious as you to find out who makes the cut. A few of our favourite memories include the mid-afternoon set of The Walkmen and the perfectly timed fireworks during the 2010 Arcade Fire show. Do you have a favourite memory from these awesome Montreal Festivals?

To ensure that the 2012 shows are better than ever, we were given the task of redesigning the Osheaga and Heavy MTL websites for a fresh new look. We look forward to another successful (and melodic) year.

Let’s face it: there are so many social media options out there that keeping up seems like a daunting task. With the launch of Google+ brand pages you’re probably wondering if you really need to join since you already have a Facebook and a Twitter account (which you already struggle to update regularly). The answer: Yes, yes you do. And you should do it sooner rather than later. Why? Let us explain…

1. You have to claim your official brand page.

Even if you don’t plan to use Google+ all that much, you should claim your page now or someone else will. Mashable’s Todd Wasserman demonstrated just how easy it is to create a brand page by creating a fake one for Coca-Cola. Google does have measure in place to reclaim any ill-created brand pages, but why go through that trouble? Google+ already has over 40 million users representing a potentially giant reach for your brand and simply claiming your page is the first step to realizing that potential.

2. Google+ can aid your SEO efforts.

SEO, or search engine optimization, is the process of improving the visibility of a website in search engines without paying for ads or boosts. Google+ posts and status updates are now popping up in organic search results, and they will continue to do so. When someone searches for your brand it’s easier and faster for Google to produce results from within itself (Google+) than from Facebook or Twitter. By using well thought-out key words when updating your site, your brand page posts will increase in the Google ranking system, increasing your Google+ presence, and ultimately increasing traffic to your site. Plus (pun intended), there’s the +1 button you’ve probably been seeing all over the place. Similar to the “Like” button on Facebook, Google+ users have the option of +1ing (yes, that’s what it’s called) anything from brand pages to blog posts to videos. When a someone +1s your brand page, people in their network are able to see that, and whatever content they +1ed is often seen as more relevant. As more and more people +1 your page or posts, they are driven higher and higher in search engine results pages, organically boosting your brand. You want those +1s.

3. Easy as 1-2-3. Google+ is simple to use and brand pages are easy to create.

There is a step-by-step tutorial to guide you through the initial creation of your page as well as a number of sites to answer any questions that arise. Google+ allows you to create visually stunning pages that drive visits and inspire interest with relative ease. A particularly remarkable page is that of Burberry. Their use of clear, colorful images and simple animated gifs creates a striking pages that encourages one to linger – to spend time interacting with the site. The “Circles” feature allows you to share (or hide) your posts with different people. Based on the idea that you don’t want to share everything with everyone, Circles gives you the option of breaking up your contacts into smaller sub-groups and lets you interact with them as you would in real life. You wouldn’t share news about your family with potential clients, and Circles takes that into consideration. You have the ability to micro-target messages for a specific audience; to share the right info with the right people. Additionally, Google+‘s “Hangouts” can host video chats with up to ten people, all in one screen. It’s a great way to connect with your followers and gives you the opportunity to show off your product.

4. The competition is probably far behind.

Being one of the first to really utilize Google+ means that when everyone else jumps on the bandwagon, you’ll be miles ahead. Establishing your presence now has the potential to pay dividends later, when the competition is struggling to keep up and you’re already connected to clients and prospects.

Analysts predict that by the end of 2012 Google+ will have more than 400 million users. Its early growth has outpaced Facebook and every other social media platform. Developing an early understanding of Google+ and all that it entails can only serve to give your business a competitive edge in an ever-changing social world. Claiming your brand, boosting your SEO and beating out the competition are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to benefits the Google+ offers. Take the time to join Google+ now. Experiment. Have fun. And boost your business. But seriously, do it now. Go.

Video content on the internet is becoming as ubiquitous as… cell phones. And for good reason. It has become one of the most important ways to effectively communicate with an audience, boost a company’s exposure and connect with consumers. It can benefit pretty much every business in one way or another, and there are so many ways in which video can be utilized. Let’s break it down:

Audience attention.

In a world obsessed with instant gratification, short attention spans are plaguing the internet. When the average Joe visits a page without video, they’re on it for 7-12 seconds. Conversely, they’ll spend more than 40 seconds if there’s video, and most videos will be watched completely through, even if they’re not good. Businesses can get 4 to 7 times more response from video than from static text or graphics alone, and if there is a page that feature both video and text people generally watch the video and ignore the text (Be honest: how often do you read the description of YouTube videos?). Video content offers an engaging platform for concise and effective communication, keeping the attention of a fickle audience.

SEO.

Everyone is fighting to be first on Google and video makes this a rather reasonable goal. If properly tagged or keyworded, a website is 53 times more likely to reach the front page of Google with a video than without. By creating a lot of short videos rather than a couple of long ones you can not only retain the attention of viewers, but drive more users to your site from YouTube and Google search results.

Connect with clients.

Videos are personal. When someone sees a smiling face on the other side of the screen, talking to them, explaining things, etc., it establishes a form of trust. They know that there’s a human being on the other side, not just a computer. The small fostering of trust makes a web browser much more likely to stay on your site, remember you in the future, and even use your product or service.

Video can benefit pretty much any business. Brands can use videos to introduce new products or lines. Companies can showcase services in a new way – to the average internet user, a talking human is much more helpful and engaging than a daunting block of text. Video ads and animation attract a lot of click-through traffic, and for retailers they often lead to more purchases. Video can be used to promote sales and special deals, and to share footage of special events and gatherings. Everyone can benefit from well-placed video.

“But how?” you might be asking. The potential is huge. (Don’t know where to start? Face3 Media can help develop content just for you.) If your website includes a feedback or testimonials page, why not feature a few videos of satisfied customers, rather than block quotes? It appeals to that personal side of people again. They can establish a connection with your client that makes them more likely to connect to your company. Is there a company event coming up? A special sale or a party of some sort? Using a promotional video on a website is much less expensive than a tv commercial and can reach many people worldwide. Informational videos are a great way to introduce people when you launch a new product or service, and you can even shoot a how-to video, detailing how to use a product, or a step-by-step guide to troubleshoot a problem.

Video content might seem tricky but it can be infinitely helpful in further developing your web presence, but Face3 is here to help. Below is a diverse sampling of videos we have produced, from intros to corporate event presentations, to a 2D animated music video.

Since 2009, mobile browsing has seen an increase of over 1,000%. That’s huge. With this increase comes a new platform for businesses to reach clients: the mobile website.

Let’s be honest: we all know how annoying it can be to visit a website on an iPhone or Blackberry without mobile accessibility. We’ve all tried twisting our phones around, pinching and squeezing and scrolling to try and view the page in the best way possible, and probably even giving up… vowing to try again from a computer but never actually revisiting the site. Why would you want to do that to your clients?

With more than 25% of mobile users accessing the web from their devices at least once a day why wouldn’t you want to jump on the mobile bandwagon? Optimizing your site for mobile access can generate almost twice the average traffic per user than sites without mobile optimization while also boosting sales and increasing customer engagement. Lucky for you Face3 Media can not only create a mobile site for your company, but even design an app. (Check out the suite of services here: www.face3media.com/services)

Consider some of the advantages to having a mobile friendly website:

1. Total accessibility.

There are so many devices out there these days, all around the world… Imagine giving your audience the ability to buy your services and follow your company from anywhere, anytime.

2. A larger reach.

The number of mobile users increases every day. Why not offer accessibility to those on the go?

3. Unique features and content.

4. Cutting-edge tactics, tools and techniques.

Accessing the web from a phone or tablet is completely different than from a computer. Tapping and touching and dragging replace pointing and clicking. Your mobile site should create a memorable, unique experience for your users.

Potential customers are spending more and more time on their phones than computers. Mobile browsing isn’t just a passing trend; it’s here to stay and it’s changing the internet as we know it. If you haven’t already optimized your company’s site for mobile access then now is the time. Go mobile.

At Face3 Media we know that it can be tough for small or emerging businesses to stay au courant with the latest advancements on the web and with the ever-evolving social media scene. After stumbling upon this article we devised a few simple ways in which we can help you improve your small business this year.

1. You have your speciality, we have ours.

When times are tough the go-to reaction is to tighten the purse strings. Whether it means employing fewer people, working longer hours, or “winging it” instead of hiring a specialist, everyone is trying to save. However, there are certain facets of your business that should never get the short end of the stick, namely the website. By delegating these tasks to Face3 Media you not only free up your own time (with which you can focus on creating new revenue), you support a small business and end up with a shiny new website, streamlined mobile access, or an up-to-the-minute social media presence.

2. There’s an app for that…

With more and more people surfing the Web from their iPhone, Blackberry or Android, the future (and present) is mobile. On average, 15% of all searches on Google today are from a mobile device. This explosion of smartphone use has changed the way people experience the Web, and ignoring this shift can only undermine your site’s potential. We can create a unique app for your company, providing continuous and complete accessibility to a larger target audience.

3. Connect with your (could-be) clients.

Whether it’s blogs, Facebook, Twitter, Google+, mobile coupons or QR codes, there’s no shortage of ways to connect with customers, and staying on top of it all can be difficult. Don’t let it be. We can raise awareness of your content, increase website traffic and help develop a network of related companies or websites. Face3 Media offers Social Media Marketing services on all major sites, including Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, and other content distribution channels, such as YouTube, Vimeo and Soundcloud. By updating or creating listings on sites such as Google Places, Bing maps, Yahoo maps, Yelp, or Foursquare, we can ensure that the local searcher can find you with ease.

4. New year, new look.

Give your website a makeover. It’s easy to get caught up in making a flashy Facebook page or in trying to decipher the difference between a ‘Tweet’ and a ‘Like,’ but it’s important not to forget about your own website. After all, all those social networking sights lead somewhere, n’est pas? Websites need love. If neglected, they can fall out of date and out of touch with what’s current. Face3 Media can take the stress out of Web mastering with Design and Development services, Web Mastering Packages and Usability services. We can design a website that reinforces your brand identity and guides your future marketing decisions, strategies and development. We can provide a plan of attack that balances eye-catching design and engaging content. We can implement a dependable, useable and universally compliant (e.g. CSS, Ajax and JQuery) content management system that gives you the ability to create, edit and manage your website.

5. Listen to real people.

In the days before the immediacy of the internet, companies would rely on word-of-mouth to generate business, on the opinions or endorsements of happy customers. It’s important to remember this today. With ten years of design and development experience, Face3 has no shortage of happy people raving about the service they received. Dustin Moores, the Marketing and Web Coordinator for evenko, states “evenko has counted on Face3 Media for over four years to deliver top-notch websites and design. They are our go-to company for a wide range of projects, be it branding, full-on festival websites, or smaller promotional micro-sites.” When you use a great new business like Face3 Media, spread the word.

By using the specialists at Face3 Media to manage or update your website and social media platforms you can have an eye catching and up to date design, access to an ever-increasing audience with mobile apps, and new ways to connect to clients from a presence on essential networking sites. Having Face3 better your business is as simple as counting to five.

We shot this lovely footage at Cahier’s store in Old Montreal (369 St. Paul O). The Farfetch online marketplace are looking for the world’s best new boutique and Cahier d’Exercices have been chosen as one of those participating in the video contest challenge. The video was edited by Farfetch.

Face3′s participating ‘Mo Bros’ raised a whopping $1,030 for this years Movember. If the stashes above look drawn in, they are. Check out the teams real whiskers at the official Movember page. You can still donate to the cause by clicking on “Donate To My Team”.

Ten years feels like a long time, but like everything fun and passionate, it went by in a flash. From our humble branding and web design beginnings (which involved parlaying late nights, large doses of espresso, obscure rock and a near obsession with Kubrick films into eye catching, fun and innovative Web design), Face3 Media is now a one-stop shop for media design and development, with services ranging from custom programming, art direction, video, photography, illustration, Web content and marketing.

Obviously, a lot has changed in the last decade, with people interacting with each other and the Web in new ways and through new technology. In that ever-changing period, we fostered numerous long-lasting partnerships and relationships with companies and websites of all sizes, adopting and guiding them through the latest innovations and trends. Change, as they say, is good. Just ask our office cat, Stanley. He’s now best friends with Sofia, the office beagle.

Thank you for a fantastic ten years. We’re looking forward to another great decade.